Agustin de Iturbide

Agustin de Iturbide (27 September 1783-19 July 1824) was a leader of the Mexican cause in the Mexican War of Independence as well as the only emperor of the First Mexican Empire from 19 May 1822 to 19 March 1823.

Biography
Agustin was born on 27 September 1783 in Valladolid, New Spain (now Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico) to a Catholic family. His family was descended from noble Basques enfeoffed by King John II of Castile, and his mother was of pure Spanish blood as well. In 1806, he became a Lieutenant in the Spanish Army, and he initially fought against the Mexican rebellion in the 1810s before allying with Vicente Guerrero. In 1822, he proclaimed himself ruler of the First Mexican Empire after declaring Mexican independence, and he dissolved Congress. However, the constitutional monarchy was opposed by the leaders of the revolution, so Agustin was ousted from power on 19 March 1823 in a coup that involved Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. On 14 July 1824, he returned to Mexico from exile, but he was arrested by the Mexican Army on his arrival and executed by firing squad, claiming that he had only returned to help Mexico.